Experiencing Students' Difficulties in Learning Abstract Algebra

Abstract

This paper aims to reveal the difficulties as experienced by graduate students while learning abstract algebra at master's degree in mathematics education in the first month of their enrollment. For, I adopted a case study of five students, interviewed them with the help of interview guidelines and observed their behaviors in the classroom, and triangulated this information with researcher’s experiences to explore the difficulties in learning abstract algebra. I used inductive method to analyze the information and concluded that graduate students have experienced several difficulties in learning abstract algebra including the difficulties in conceptualizing algebraic facts, constructing examples and non-examples; and proving theorems. Finally, the study suggests that graduate teaching need to focus on conceptual and procedural understanding of students, and emphasizing to construct examples and non-example as much as possible to improve students’ learning.

Analisis Kemampuan Pembuktian Matematis Pada Mata Kuliah Teori Ring Ditinjau Dari Pendidikan Sekolah Menengah

“…Namun faktanya banyak mahasiswa yang mengalami kesulitan dalam menyelesaikan masalah pembuktian matematis. Kesulitan mahasiswa dalam menyelesaikan pembuktian matematis pada mata kuliah aljabar abstrak secara khusus telah diteliti oleh (Yuniati, 2014;Arikan et al, 2015;Fadilah & Jamilah, 2016;Jamilah et al, 2017;Wijayanti, et al, 2018;Fatmiyati, et al, 2020;Zahria et al, 2020;Subedi, 2020;Manandhar & Sharma, 2021). Hasilhasil penelitian tersebut melaporkan bahwa kemampuan pembuktian matematis mahasiswa pada mata kuliah aljabar abstrak baik teori grup maupun teori ring masih lemah.…”

Changes in the Livelihood Capitals and Strategies of Hydropower Displaced Community of Arun-III in Nepal

“…Agriculture is vital to rural life because it provides income, fuel, building materials, and animal feed. The capabilities, assets, and activities necessary for survival and the development of such capabilities, assets/resources, and activities are referred to as livelihood (Subedi & Pandey, 2002;Subedi, 2017;Paudyal, 2017). Rural households build a portfolio of livelihood activities by combining a variety of income-generating and social activities to meet and, if possible, improve their livelihood outcomes (Paudyal, 2017).…”